Afghanistan

B Rankin to H Zazai, OUT! That is a 'sterling' catch and the Irish are pumped up! Not much of Zazai's fireworks tonight. A length ball, outside off, Hazratullah swings hard but is way too early into the shot. Gets a big leading edge which goes a long way up in the air. Now, this is a tricky catch. Paul Stirling is at mid off and has to run backwards to go for the catch. He puts in the hard yards, keeps his eyes on the ball and dives at the last moment to take a two-handed stunner! The entire camp in Green is hugging its skipper. Now, now, now, do they believe? We almost had everything in that over - A four, a six, a dropped catch and 2 wickets. Wow.

B Rankin to U Ghani, OUT! LBW! The tall Rankin has struck! There falls the first wicket. Pace has done it for Ireland. A skiddy ball, pitched on a good length outside off, Ghani stays back in his crease to play that to the on side but misses. The speed does him in, beating his attempt and hitting him on the back pad. It is below the knee roll as well and Rankin appeals long and hard. The umpire thinks for a while and eventually raises his finger! Can Ireland build on this?

Najeeb Tarakaic Andy Balbirnie b George Dockrell171221141.67

7.4

G Dockrell to N Tarakai, OUT! Taken at long on and the hard-hitting Tarakai departs too! Intelligent bowling but not-so intelligent batting. Full and around off, Najeeb gets down and looks to play the slog sweep. Is nowhere near the pitch of the ball and only skies it high in the air. Andy Balbirnie comes running in from long on and takes a decent catch. Three big hitters depart, in the span of 22 balls.

S Getkate to A Afghan, OUT! Getkate strikes first ball! Full and outside off, Afghan gets under it and looks to hit it over long off but the lack of pace defeats him. Hence he mistimes his shot and finds Stuart Thompson at long off. The budding 40-run stand is broken at the right time.

P Chase to M Nabi, OUT! High, high, high, into the atmosphere, ionosphere and stratosphere... travelling towards Delhi... but hang on... it is in Dehradun and magnificently taken! Andy Balbirnie, take a bow. That is a superb catch under pressure. A length ball, around middle, Nabi swings this miles in the air and for a second it seems like the ball has travelled the distance. But then, we realize that he has got more height than distance and when the parabolic curve is completed, Balbirnie is seen waiting for it, with his foot very close to the mid-wicket ropes. He takes it as cool as a cucumber and barely reacts! Nabi waits for a while, asks the umpire, gets confirmation from the fielder but it is referred upstairs. Replays show that the catch is fine and Nabi's maiden T20I century will have to wait. Still, 81 from 36 is not bad at all, is it?

B Rankin to N Zadran, OUT! DIRECT HIT, BULL'S EYE! We need not have a second look, it looked so out. Wonder why it was referred upstairs. A short ball, Najibullah pulled it straight to George Dockrell at short mid-wicket and took off for the single. George fielded, picked it up, took aim and then released a powerful throw - direct at the base of the stumps at the bowler's end. Zadran started to walk immediately as he knew he was gone. But the umpire wanted to be sure.

Shafiqullah (W)c Stuart Thompson b Boyd Rankin12711171.43

18.2

B Rankin to Shafiqullah, OUT! It is not a no ball and Shafiqullah is gone. A length ball outside off, Shafaq looks to go downtown but again, gets more height than distance as on the previous one. Only this time, the ball is well inside the ropes and long off takes it comfortably, with Stuart Thompson being the catcher. They check for the no ball but the replays deem it fine.

Ireland

Zia to P Stirling, OUT! Caught! There goes the first wicket and with that, probably half the chances of a win for Ireland. Hero of the losing side on Saturday loses out on Sunday. A length ball, around middle, Stirling looks to go over the top but the ball hits the toe end of the bat and lobs to mid on. Simple catch for the opposition skipper and Asghar Afghan makes no mistake.

R Khan to K O'Brien, OUT! Caught behind! My word, Shafaq, take a bow. This wicket is more due to the keeper than the bowler. Fractionally short outside off, O'Brien backs away to the leg side and looks to go inside out but the ball stays low and takes the bottom edge. But Shafiqullah Shafaq gets low and takes a stunner. Rashid starts flying while Shafaq appeals and the umpire raises his finger. KOB is disappointed but that was out. End of a big knock. Sadly, that might be the end of the game.

Andy Balbirnieb Zia-ur-Rehman473370142.42

13.4

Zia to A Balbirnie, OUT! BOWLED! The slower ball does the trick and Afghanistan breathe again. The 96-run stand has been broken and the pendulum is back into action. A length ball, outside off, Balbirnie looks to defend but the ball comes in a long way, goes past his inner half of the bat and knocks the timber! Decent knock by Balbirnie. 83 more needed from 38 balls now.

Zia to K O'Brien, OUT! DIRECT HIT AND THOMPSON IS GONE! Superb piece of fielding and Afghanistan are back in this game. Outside off, O'Brien punches it towards point and sets off for what looks like an easy single. Thompson starts to run too but Najibullah Zadran at backward point dives to his right, gets up in a flash, takes aim and has a rocket throw at the striker's end. Boom! Thompson is nowhere in the frame.

R Khan to G Dockrell, OUT! That is a terrific catch from Nabi now! So what if the experienced bloke could not get a wicket. You cannot keep him out of the game, can you? Full and around off, Dockrell gets down to play the slog sweep but Rashid has fired this a touch wider outside off. This means that Dockrell has to fetch it. Hence, he mistimes it towards long on but it does seem like the ball has enough legs on it. But Mohammad Nabi watches it like a hawk, leaps at the last moment, catches it, parries it in the air, goes beyond the boundary and then comes back in to take the catch! Superb athleticism.

Shane Getkatest Shafiqullah b Rashid Khan240050

17.2

R Khan to S Getkate, OUT! Stumped by a mile. Getkate comes down the track and seeing that, Rashid fires it wide down the leg side. Shane misses his flick but the keeper does well to collect and whip the bails off. They appeal and it is referred upstairs. Replays confirm the marching orders.

R Khan to S Singh, OUT! LBW! FIRST AFGHAN PLAYER TO TAKE A T20I HAT-TRICK! Wow. Rashid Khan, simply wow. One of the best bowlers ever witnessed in this sport. This is another googly, around middle, Simi gets across, looks to flick but misses and is struck right in front of the stumps. Looked plumb and the umpire raises his finger.

Joshua Littleb Rashid Khan6510120

19.2

R Khan to J Little, OUT! BOWLED! Rashid gets a fifer. Does not matter where he bowls. He gets wickets in Sharjah, Dubai, Ireland, Netherland, Windies and even in India. Full and around off, Little gets across to paddle but misses and the ball hits the off stump.